HC Deb 19 March 1999 vol 327 cc885-6W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the members of regional development agencies regarding their environmental role; what plans he has to monitor the environmental impact of RDAs; what plans he has to assess the implementation of the regional strategy of the RDAs; and if he will make a statement. [77366]

Mr. Meale

Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have a statutory purpose to contribute to sustainable development, and a statutory duty to formulate a regional strategy in relation to all their purposes. The statutory guidance we will be giving to RDAs in relation to their strategies, which will be supplemented with more detailed advice from my Department, will emphasise the fact that sustainable development is integral to the RDAs' work. An RDA's strategy will be expected to include an appraisal of the contribution the strategy will make to sustainable development, and how it will foster the four key principles of sustainable development: high and stable levels of economic growth and employment; social progress which recognises the needs of everyone; effective protection of the environment and prudent use

Authority Purpose Value (£ million) Political control
Woking Town centre regeneration 4.1 Liberal Democrat
Sheffield Waste incinerator 17.0 Labour
Plymouth TCAs for self-financing schemes n/a Labour
Harrogate Harrogate International Centre 6.6 Liberal Democrat

Note:

None of the applications was successful.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 March 1999,Official Report, column 469, if he will list the applications for trading credit approvals which were successful in 1998–99, and the political control of each local authority concerned with the applications. [77616]

Ms Armstrong

None was successful.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 March 1999,Official Report, column 469, what effect granting the trading credit approval applied for by Harrogate Borough Council would have had on the PSBR for 1999–2000. [77617]

of natural resources; and integration of economic, social and environmental objectives. RDAs are aiming to submit their first strategies by October 1999.

We are working with RDAs to develop an effective monitoring and evaluation framework. This will take some time, and we have therefore produced an interim framework which includes a number of core indicators which RDAs should use in developing their strategies. The indicators cover each of the five statutory purposes of RDAs, including sustainable development, and provide both a regional context and a measure of key aspects of RDA activity. Further indicators which reflect the particular features of each region will be developed by the RDAs themselves.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment discussed with the Chairmen of RDAs on 19 February their sustainable development role. Officials, from my Department and from the Government Offices for the Regions regularly discuss with RDAs the work they are doing in preparation for their strategies.